Reading Rockets will make the long journey to Manchester on Saturday (7.30pm tip) when the Magic entertain the Berkshire team at the Amaechi Basketball Centre as the two teams continue their fierce rivalry in the battle to obtain a top four spot. The Rockets go into the game on the back of a four game winning streak having most recently beaten the London Leopards 97-91 at the Magnet Leisure Centre (Maidenhead), whilst the Magic have lost four out of their last five games; the last loss coming in the National Trophy final at the hands of newly-promoted London Mets.

 

This will be the third encounter between the two teams with the Magic coming out on top in both games, winning by 85 points to 66 in the most recent game which saw them advance to the National Trophy final and in the league game at Rivermead back in December running out winners by 82 points to 57. The Magic currently lie fourth in the table with a record of ten wins and five losses, while the Rockets are hot on their heels having a record of nine wins and six losses.

 

Rockets Head Coach Matt Johnson realises that this is a key game in the race for the play-offs and knows this weekend's game will be a crucial match-up for his side. He said, 'The league is getting more and more competitive as the season progresses and really now anyone can beat anyone on a given day. A much improved Leopards team ran us close last weekend and they are looking at avoiding relegation - that's how tight it is! We really feel we can go up to Manchester and be much more competitive than we have done in our previous two encounters and although they are on a tough run themselves and will be wanting to get out of their 'mini slump', I feel that if we perform as we should, we can take a vital victory back to Reading.'

 

For the first time in five weeks, the Rockets go into their game with Manchester with a fully fit squad. Dan McKay is now back in contention for selection and Belgian Fenny Falmagne appears to have recovered from his knee injury which has hampered him for the last five weeks. Manchester however do have a number of injury concerns. Point guard Brandon Kimbrough has only recently returned from three months on the sideline and is not yet back to full fitness but is expected to play. Young forward Yann Fasbender has a dislocated finger but does look like he will be available for the visit of Rockets.

 

Rockets Team Analyst Ben Fisher knows the trip up North will be a tough one and has highlighted three key players for the Rockets to be aware of. He said, 'Away trips don't get much tougher than going to Manchester! In terms of their personnel, as most teams know, you have to guard against the 'big three' of Stefan Gill, Brandon Kimbrough, and Tin Tin Watts - they are all game winners right there and they have to play big minutes every night for them. You can't take away the fact that they have already reached two finals this season - you don't get there by accident so we expect another difficult encounter and we know Coach (Jeff) Jones will have them fired up and ready to play.'